CHESTERFIELD, Mo — The skies were graced with an impressive sight this morning as the Blue Angels rolled into St. Louis. If you were anywhere near the Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, you heard them before you saw them.
For Executive Officer and second-in-command Bryce Aubuchon, who is from Washington, Missouri, it’s good to be home.
“This is my first time being back as a Blue Angel. It’s incredible to be home, but it’s even more exciting to be able to bring the team to the people of St. Louis and Chesterfield,” said Aubuchon.
The F-18s gave us a quick taste of what’s ahead this weekend at the “Spirit of St. Louis Air Show and STEM Expo.” The high-performance team dominated the sky with a few practice runs. The jets were joined by a mammoth machine, known affectionately as “Fat Albert.”
“He is our logistical platform. He’s the one that transports the team from show site to show site, in addition to all the equipment required to keep these jets airborne,” Aubuchon added.
Fat Albert will be offering demonstrations, including an explosive take-off, only on Saturday. Avionics Shop Staff Sergeant Alex Portillo says he has flown aboard Fat Albert. He describes it as an intense ride.
“You just strap in, and as soon as it takes off, you’re back in your seat. When it goes up and does its maneuver, it’s a feeling in your gut that’s unexplainable,” said Portillo.
The air show runs from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Parking lots open at 8 a.m., with gates opening at 9 a.m. each day. Show organizers recommend arriving early to beat traffic.
For more information on a jam-packed weekend, visit our website at fox2now.com.
Comments are closed.